Urea filtration device comprising nanofiber compositions

Abstract

Provided herein are compositions, devices, and methods including nanofiber compositions comprising a polymer and nanoparticles including one or more of nickel, cobalt, silver, and tetraphenylborate, wherein the compositions are capable of binding targets in the blood related to blood disorders symptomatic of kidney disease and/or failure.

1 . A nanofiber composition comprising a polymer and nanoparticles comprising one or more of nickel, cobalt, silver, and tetraphenylborate. 
     
     
         2 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises one or more of silicon dioxide, polyurethane prepolymer (PUP), polylactic acid (PLA), polycarbonate, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), polyacrylic acid (PAA), polyethylene glycol (PEG), and polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). 
     
     
         3 . The nanofiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise nickel. 
     
     
         4 . The nanofiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise cobalt. 
     
     
         5 . The nanofiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise silver. 
     
     
         6 . The nanofiber composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanoparticles comprise tetraphenylborate. 
     
     
         7 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber composition comprises nickel nanoparticles and cobalt nanoparticles. 
     
     
         8 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber composition comprises nickel nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         9 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber composition comprises cobalt nanoparticles and silver nanoparticles. 
     
     
         10 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the nanofiber composition comprises nickel nanoparticles, cobalt nanoparticles, silver nanoparticles, and tetraphenylborate nanoparticles. 
     
     
         11 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises silicone dioxide and the nanoparticles comprise nickel and cobalt. 
     
     
         12 . The composition of  claim 1 , wherein the polymer comprises silicone dioxide and the nanoparticles comprise silver and cobalt. 
     
     
         13 . The composition of  claim 11 , wherein the polymer further comprises polyvinyl pyrrolidone (PVP). 
     
     
         14 . The composition of  claim 11 , further comprising tetraphenylborate nanoparticles. 
     
     
         15 .- 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A cartridge comprising one or more membranes, wherein each membrane comprises a nanofiber composition, wherein the nanofiber composition comprises a polymer and one or more nanoparticles comprising nickel, cobalt, silver, and/or tetraphenylborate. 
     
     
         18 .- 28 . (canceled) 
     
     
         29 . A device comprising:
 a. a filtration chamber configured to receive blood comprising urea; and   b. one or more membranes disposed within said filtration chamber, wherein each membrane comprises nanofibers comprising a polymer and nanoparticles comprising one or more of nickel, cobalt, silver, and tetraphenylborate, and wherein the nanofibers are capable of binding urea, converting urea to ammonia, and subsequently binding ammonia.   
     
     
         30 - 31 . (canceled) 
     
     
         32 . A method of reducing the concentration of urea from blood, comprising:
 a. providing blood comprising urea to a device comprising a cartridge, wherein the cartridge comprises one or more membranes, wherein each membrane comprises a nanofiber composition of  claim 1 ;   b. contacting the blood with the membrane for a sufficient amount of time to allow binding of urea and conversion of urea to ammonia; and   c. pumping the blood through the cartridge at a sufficient pressure to allow binding of ammonia to the membrane, thereby reducing the concentration of urea in the blood.   
     
     
         33 . A method of treating a subject with a disease condition characterized by elevated blood urea concentration, the method comprising:
 a. obtaining a sample of the subject's blood;   b. pumping the sample through a nanofiber composition of  claim 1 , for a time period sufficient to allow the nanofiber composition to bind urea, convert urea to ammonia, and subsequently bind ammonia, thereby creating a filtered blood sample; and   c. returning the filtered blood sample to the subject, thereby treating the subject.   
     
     
         34 . A method of treating a mammal for elevated blood urea concentration comprising:
 a. providing blood comprising urea to a device comprising one or more membranes, wherein each membrane comprises a nanofiber composition of  claim 1 , and wherein the nanofibers are capable of binding urea, converting urea to ammonia, and subsequently binding ammonia,   b. contacting the blood with the membrane for a sufficient amount of time to allow binding of urea and conversion to ammonia; and   c. pumping the blood through the cartridge at a sufficient pressure and flow rate to allow binding of ammonia to the nanofibers, thereby reducing the concentration of urea in the blood.   
     
     
         35 . A method of treating a subject with a disease condition characterized by elevated urea concentration in blood, the method comprising:
 a. administering ex vivo hemofiltration to said subject wherein blood is removed from the subject and filtered through a device comprising a filtration chamber (1) configured to receive blood comprising elevated urea concentration, and (2) composed of one or more membranes, wherein each membrane comprises a nanofiber composition of  claim 1 ;   b. incubating the blood or plasma with the one or more membranes for a sufficient time to allow binding of urea to the nanofiber, conversion of urea to ammonia, and subsequent binding of ammonia to the nanofibers;   c. pumping the blood through the device at a pressure and flow rate sufficient to filter the blood and produced an amount of filtered blood; and   d. returning filtered blood to said subject, wherein the filtered blood is reduced in urea concentration by at least about 50%.   
     
     
         36 - 38 . (canceled)